Brake-actuating mechanism



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T CONWAY BRAKE A GTUATING MECHANISM. No. 517,112. vPatentedMair. 27,1894.

TN: M'noNAL LITHBGRAFHINQ cow-um! WASHINGTON: D. c.

(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheath.

T. CONWAY. BRAKE AQTUATING MECHANISM.

No. 517,112. Patented Mar. 27., 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS CONYVAY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

BRAKE-AOTUATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,112, dated March27, 1894.

Application filed May 12, 1893- Serial No. 473,953. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS CONWAY, of Kansas City, Jackson county,Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ActuatingMechanism for Vehicle- Brakes and Lifting-Jacks, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanism, which may be used inconnection with and to actuate wagon-brakes, and may also be used inconnection with and to actuate a bar for lifting purposes; and theobjects of my invention are to produce mechanism of the characterreferred to, which is positive and direct in action, and which issimple, strong, durable and inexpensive of construction.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar andnovel features of construction and arrangement, as'will be hereinafterfully described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1, represents a perspective view of an actuating mechanism,constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, is a verticalcentral sectional view of the actuating-mechanism. Fig. 3, represents adetail perspective view of the actuating-pawl of the mechanism. Fig. 4.,represents a detail perspective view of the locking-pawl of themechanism. Fig. 5, represents a detail perspective view of the slottedlink-bar which connects the actuating and locking-pawls. Fig. 6,represents a vertical longitudinal sectional View of a wagon, andshowing my improved actuating-mechanism connected up to thebrake-mechanism thereof, in operative position. Fig. 7, represents aperspective view of the actuating mechanism and brake-mechanism detachedfrom the wagon. Fig.8, represents a side elevation of a different formof wagon, and showing my improved actuatingmcchanism connected up to thebrake mechanism thereof, in operative position. Fig. 9, represents aperspective view of the actuatingmechanism and the brake-mechanism ofthe wagon shown in Fig. 8, detached. Fig. 10,

represents a perspective view of a standard and a vertical bar supportedthereby, and showing my improved mechanism in position to raise or liftsaid bar. Fig. 11, is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line00-00 of Fig. 10.

In the drawings, 1 designates a rectangular bar or plate which is formedat one end with a bifurcation 2, and jonrnaled in the end of the bar orplate 1, and extending transversely of the outer end of the bifurcation2, is the shaft 3. At one end this shaft is provided or formed with arook-arm 4, and keyed or otherwise rigidly mounted upon the shaft 3 is aratchet-wheel 5, said ratchet-wheel occupying the bifurcation of the baror plate 1.

Loosely secured at one end, upon the opposite end of the shaft 3, is alever 6, and pivotally carried upon the pin 7 of said lever is a pawl 8,the free end of said pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel 5. 1

Located in the inner end of the bifurcation 2 of the bar or plate 1, andpivotally mounted upon the cross-pin or rod 10, is the lockingpawl 9,the forward or free end of which engages the ratchet-wheel 5. Thislocking-pawl is bifurcated at its pivoted end at 11, and a spring 12,encircling the pivot pin or rod, has

one end secured to the bar or plate 1, and the other end bearing againstthe locking-pawl 9; the tendency of said spring being to hold thelocking-pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel 5. Pivotally securedto one side and 'near the forward or free end of the locking-pawl 9, isthe rear end of a connecting link-bar 14, the opposite end of which isformed with a curved slot 15; said slot extending approximatelyconcentric to the axis of the shaft 3, and being engaged. by the pin 16carried by the actuating-pawl 8, and near its forward end. This pin 16,normally occupics the rear end of the slot 15, so that as the lever 6 ismoved forward, the pin 16. is allowed to move to the front end of saidslot. The actuating-pawl 8 is held from displacement from theratchet-wheel 5, by the spring 13 said spring encircling the pivot 7,and having one end secured to the lever 6,and the opposite end bearingagainst the shoulder 13 formed in the adjacent side of theactuatingpawl.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, a delivery wagon 17 is shown; saiddelivery wagon being formed with a longitudinal slot 18 in thefoot-board 19, through which the upper end of the lever 6 of theactuating-mechanism projects; the bar or plate 1 being bolted orotherwise secured to the under side of the wagonbody, near its frontend. The leverG is provided with a projection 18, adapted to be engagedby the foot of the operator, if desired. A link-rod 20, extendslongitudinally of the under side of the wagon-body, and has its oppositeends pivotally connected to the rock-arm 4, of the shaft 3, and theupwardly projecting arm 22, of the rock-shaft 23; said rock-shaft beingarranged horizontally and transversely of the wagon-body, and journaledin the hangers 24, pendent from the under side of the wagon-body. Theshaft 23 is cranked at each end at 25, and carries at each end abrake-shoe 26; said brake-shoes being adapted, when the lever 6, isthrown forward to contact with the peripheries of the rear wheels 27, ashereinafter referred to in the operation of the device.

Referring now to the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9, 28 designatesa farm-wagon, and secured to the right-hand side thereof and near itsforward end, is the actuatingmechanism described, the lever 6 in thisinstance having its upper end bent forwardly to form a hand-held. Thelongitudinally extendin g link-rod 20, is pivotally connected at itsopposite ends to the rock-arm 4:, and to the upwardly extending arm 22,of a rock-shaft 23, journaled transverselyof and to the under side ofthe body of the wagon, in bearings 24. The rock shaft 23, is alsoprovided at its middle with the depending arm 29, which is pivotallyconnected to the rear end of the rod 30, which carries the brake-beam 31at its forward end. This brake-beam extends transversely of the wagonand forward of the rear wheels 27, and is adapted when the lever 6 isoperated to hold the brake-shoes carried th ereby into contact with theperipheries of the said wheels.

Referring now to the construction disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11, 33designates a base board or plate, upon which the squared end of the baror plate 1 is rigidly secured, so that said bar or plate shall occupy avertical position. Secured to operate vertically against one side ofthis bar or plate in the guide and retaining clips or brackets 34, is arack-bar 35; said bar being arranged opposite the bifurcation 2 in theupper end of the bar or plate 1, and so that the teeth thereof shallproject inwardly. When using the actuating-mechanism with this lift-bar35, the rock-arm 4 is dispensed with, and a gear-pinion 5, is secured toor formed integral with the ratchetwheel 5: the opposite ends of theshaft 3, are

then journaled in the upper ends of the bar or plate 1 as beforedescribed, and the lever 6, is also preferably bent to extend downwardlyas shown, so as to be more conveniently handled.

In its application to a wagon, the operation of the device is asfollows: The lever 6 may be moved or thrown forward by hand or foot, andthis causes the actuating-pawl to rotate the ratchet-wheel 5, and movethe rock-arm forwardly and at the same time the rock-arm pulling uponthe link-rod 20, operates the rock-shaft and applies the brake-shoes tothe wheels. As this movement takes place, the spring-actuatedlocking-pawl slips over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and when thelimit of the movement of the wheel 5 is reached, the pawl prevents itsbackward rotation, and holds the brake-shoes firmly in contact with thewheels. When desiring to release the brake, the lever is thrownrearwardly, and the pin 16, coming in contact with the rear end of theslot 15, forces or moves the lockingpawl from engagement with theratchet-whee1 5, and allows the brake-mechanism to resume its normal andunlocked position. With the lifting-mechanism shown in Figs. 10 and 11,the operation is practically the same. It is designed, as shown in thisconnection, that the lift shall be obtained by raising the lever, sothat the device may be placed beneath a wagon and the power applied tothe lever with better effect and more conveniently [O the operator.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced amechanism for the purposes intended, which is simple, strong, durableand comparatively inexpensive of construction, and which is positive andreliable in action.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

An actuatin g-mechanis1n, comprising a bar or plate, a shaft revolublycarried by said bar or plate, a ratchet-wheel mounted upon said shaft,and a spring-actuated locking pawl pivotally carried by the bar orplate, and engaging the ratchet-wheel, a lever mounted loosely upon theshaft, and a spring-actuated pawl carried by said lever and engaging theratchet-wheel, and having a pin, and a slotted linkbar pivotally carriedbythe locking-pawl, and the slot of said bar engaging the pin of theactuating pawl, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS CONWAY.

Witnesses:

G. Y. THoRPn, M. P. SMITH.

IIO

